“They allow you to clean your floors using only steam, so you can deep clean your floors without using any harsh cleaning solutions,” says Bailey Carson, home care expert at Angi. There are steam mops with basic features that make it quick and easy to clean floors, while others have a accessories and tools that make it easier to clean other hard surfaces. To help you decide which steam mop is the best option for your home, we researched a variety of picks, keeping in mind each model’s weight, power cord length, and water capacity. We also consulted Bailey Carson, home care expert at Angi. Overall, our top pick is the Shark Steam & Scrub Mop. The steam mop has rotating dual mop heads and three speeds to deep clean hard surfaces. It can also be used on a variety of surfaces and has built-in LED lights, which makes it easier to clean hard-to-reach spots.Here are the best steam mops to keep your floors clean. Keep in Mind: It’s more expensive than other options. Overall, we recommend Shark’s Steam & Scrub Mop due to its dual rotating mop heads that create a wide cleaning path. The steam mop can be used on a variety of surfaces and and has built-in lighting for a more thorough clean. The unit has three steam modes: light, normal, and deep. You can use the light setting to quickly clean up a spill and the normal for regular surface cleaning. The deep setting is for dirt and debris that’s been hanging around for a bit longer. Another great feature is the LED headlights that illuminate corners and crevices so you can discover and clean hidden dirt and debris. The rotating pads coupled with steam make this mop up to two times better at removing stains than other mops on the market. According to Shark, the steam mop removes 99.9% of bacteria without harsh cleansers. Plus, at 150 scrubs per minute, it’s much faster and more efficient than if you were to scrub on your hands and knees. Despite its heavy-duty capabilities, this Shark steam mop is appropriate to use on all types of sealed floors, including hardwood, marble, tile and stone. It comes with four washable pads so you always have a backup pair when cleaning. And at less than eight pounds, this steam mop is fairly lightweight as well. Price at time of publish: $179 Weight: 7.8 lbs | Cord Length: 25 feet | Reservoir Size: 10.82 ounces Keep in Mind: It’s got a shorter cord and smaller water reservoir than other options. If you want to deep clean your floors without breaking the bank, look no further than this Black+Decker steam mop. It’s safe to use on many types of sealed floors including hardwood, granite and stone, tile, and laminate. Just fill this steam mop with regular water, heat it up, and in about 30 seconds you’re ready to do some deep cleaning. One setting is all you need to take on grime and dirt that builds up on your hard floors. The swivel mop head allows you to get around furniture and in other tight spots to kill up to 99% of household germs without heavy-duty cleansers, according to Black + Decker. Plus, this steam mop is backed by a two-year limited warranty. At just under six pounds, the unit is fairly lightweight. It’s worth noting, however, that it does have a shorter power cord and smaller water reservoir than other options, so it may be ideal to use in small spaces. Price at time of publish: $59 Weight: 5.5 pounds | Cord Length: 16 feet | Reservoir Size: 12.8 ounces Keep in Mind: While you can use water, demineralized water is recommended. The Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe steam mop features a thorough detachable brush that takes care of deep stains. Regardless of your floor type, the steam mop will quickly clean and sanitize your space thanks to a long power cord and included accessories. One of the main benefits of this steam mop is you can use it to sanitize sealed floors, including hardwood, ceramic, tile, marble, and granite. All you have to do is adjust the digital control panel and choose the steam level that’s best for your flooring. This steam mop has a variety of accessories that make cleaning even easier, such as a detail floor scraper and a scrubber head. It also comes with eight fragrance disks that can be inserted into the mop pad for a fresh scent in your space. With the Bissell’s extra-long cord, you can cover more surface area without having to unplug. The large 19-ounce water reservoir makes it easy to clean for longer periods of time without having to refill. Plus, Bissell backs this handy tool with a two-year limited warranty. Price at time of publish: $103 Weight: 6.2 pounds | Cord Length: 25 feet | Reservoir Size: 19 ounces Keep in Mind: The reusable pad may not be ideal for those that don’t have a washing machine at home. This steam mop has earned its name because it’s got some genius features that make it a cinch to use. Touch-free technology allows you to attach the pad, clean the floor, and then remove the pad without ever having to touch the dirt. In fact, you could drop it directly into the hamper when you’re done cleaning to make it even simpler. This steam mop features direct steam channeling, which spreads the steam throughout the mop head so that you can cover more surface area and clean more effectively. The dual-sided pads are super absorbent and can pull dirt and grime out of any hard surface, especially tile. It features Shark’s Steam Blaster technology, which focuses a shot of steam onto stains and quickly cleans them. Price at time of publish: $130 Weight: 5.77 pounds | Cord Length: 22 feet | Reservoir Size: 11.83 ounces Keep in Mind: The mop head is flexible but it doesn’t swivel, so it may not be suitable for areas that are hard to reach. Plus, the carpet-friendly attachment is sold separately. This Light and Easy steam mop is a gentle option that’ll, provide just enough moisture to clean laminate without damaging it. The mop pads are triple-layered for optimal steam cleaning and it has a wide and flexible mop head that allows you to cover more surface area quickly, including hard-to-reach corners. Once you fill the steam mop with water, it takes just about 20 seconds to heat up. It’s got an L-shaped ergonomic handle, and all you have to do is move it back and forth to release the steam and sanitize the surface. The light moisture evaporates on the surface in about 30 seconds so you don’t have to wait to enjoy your nice, clean floors. A quick-release cord makes this steam mop breeze to store. Plus, there’s an optional attachment that allows you to use it on carpet, too. Just keep it in mind it’s sold separately, so it’ll be an additional cost. Price at time of publish: $90 Weight: 3.5 pounds | Cord Length: 20 feet | Reservoir Size: Not listed Keep in Mind: It’s heavier than some other options. The Bissell PowerFresh Vac & Steam is an all-in-one steam mop that pulls off the ultimate housekeeping magic by allowing you to vacuum up messes and steam clean the floor in one motion. According to Bissell, it gets rid of 99.9% of household germs and bacteria on sealed floors including hardwood, granite and marble, linoleum, and ceramic tile. The cyclonic vacuum whirls up dirt from the floor and traps it in the tank, which locks out moisture so you don’t have a soggy mess when emptying it later. No need to touch the messy mop pad when you’re through, either—It’s easy to change out the pads on this Bissell mop with just the touch of your foot. With the digital controls, it’s simple to switch between the steam, high steam, and suction modes while cleaning so you always have the right setting to tackle the mess. You can use regular water to fill it, but demineralized water is recommended. Price at time of publish: $186 Weight: 9.74 pounds | Cord Length: 25 feet | Reservoir Size: 12.8 ounces Keep in Mind: It’s more expensive than other options on the market. Floors aren’t the only thing you can keep shiny and clean thanks to this Black+Decker steam mop. The model comes with multiple attachments, making it a versatile option that can clean everything from floors to appliances to mirrors. The steam mop comes with seven attachments, including a grout brush that makes scrubbing bathroom tile a much easier task. It also comes with four washable pads so you’re always ready to tackle just about any surface and corner in your home, from floors to shower doors to kitchen counters. The swivel mop head makes it easy to get into tight corners and crevices. The Black+Decker’s SmartSelect steam control option lets you increase or decrease the steam so you can protect surfaces, including upholstered furniture. This mop eliminates 99% of germs just by using steam and friction from the microfiber pad. The reservoir holds 19.6 ounces of water and heats up in 20 seconds so you can get to cleaning quickly. Price at time of publish: $200 Weight: 6 pounds | Cord Length: 20 feet | Reservoir Size: Not Specified Keep in Mind: Operate carefully to avoid burning yourself with steam. This might not look like your ordinary steam mop, but this handheld Bissell model can take on any hard surface in your home with ease. Fill up the reservoir and in about 30 seconds the device will be ready to remove dirt and grime on sealed surfaces including granite, marble, hardwood, and ceramic. This little dynamo is especially good for spots where you can’t easily use a mop, like on shower doors, windows, and countertops. In lieu of harsh cleansers, all you have to do is press the trigger and a blast of steam and dirt is gone. The Bissell SteamShot Deluxe has a variety of scrub brushes that are color coded, so you’ll never have to get confused which one you use for the bathroom and which one you use for the kitchen. It also comes with a slew of tools, incuding an extension hose, a scraping tool, a grout brush, a window squeegee, and a fabric steamer, so every surface in your home is covered. Price at time of publish: $42 Weight: 4 pounds | Cord Length: 20 feet | Reservoir Size: 6.6 ounces
What to Know About Steam Mops Before Shopping
Reservoir Size
The larger the steam mop’s reservoir, the more water it can hold, which means you can steam for longer without having to refill your mop and wait for it to heat up again. That said, toting around more water can make a steam mop heavier to operate. If you’ve got a small space or plan to use your steam mop for only certain areas of your home, you can get away with a lightweight mop with a smaller reservoir.
Special Features
Like with all other home appliances, the various attachments, tools, and other features on a steam mop are only helpful if you need them or will actually use them. There are perfectly good steam mops on the market that are meant simply to move back and forth across a floor, while others can be transformed into hand-held devices that help you get into the tiniest of cracks and crevices. When shopping for a steam mop, keep your budget and your household’s needs in mind when choosing among the many models available.
Pad Shape
Most mops come with a rectangular cleaning pad, but there are some that are triangle-shaped, making it easier to get into corners and tight spots, like behind the toilet. Some mops feature a swivel head that makes it easier to get the rectangular pad into those hard-to-reach areas, but a triangular head gives you more flexibility when cleaning corners and crevices.
Your Questions, Answered
How do steam cleaners work?
Depending on the model you have, you can fill up your steam mop with tap water or distilled water and let it heat up. When it’s ready, you engage the steam—on some mops it’s a trigger, on others you plunge the handle—which then moistens the pad that covers the mop head. The steam mop won’t get soaked like a traditional mop that you dunk in a bucket of cleaning solution, but the moist heat does the trick in loosening up dirt and grime.
What type of floors can you use a steam cleaner on?
Steam mops work best on ceramic, stone, and porcelain floors that can stand up to the heat. It’s fine to use a steam mop on hardwood floors, but only if they’re sealed. “For regular cleaning around the house, you probably don’t need a steam mop with all the bells and whistles, but you do need one that’s compatible with your floors,” says Carson. “If your hardwood floors aren’t sealed, stick to using a traditional mop to protect your floors from damage.” Avoid using a steam mop on cork, linoleum, or vinyl floors because the extreme heat and excess water can warp these materials. Aside from marring the beauty of your floors, you might void any warranties you might have for your flooring, so be sure to check the manufacturer’s guidelines before using a steam mop on your surfaces.
Can you put vinegar in a steam cleaner?
Vinegar has acidic properties that make it a natural cleanser and deodorizer for the household. However, not all steam cleaners can handle it, and it might not be the best thing for your floor, either. Before using anything but water to fill your steam cleaner, read the manufacturer’s guidelines for both the steam mop and your floor so that you don’t void any warranties.
Who We Are
Barbara Bellesi Zito writes about home and garden topics for various lifestyle publications. To compile this list, she researched a wide range of steam mops from top brands based on their special features, effectiveness on various floor types, and ease of use. She consulted Bailey Carson, home care expert at Angi, for her expertise and insight.
